Guide roller in roller guides

ABSTRACT

An improved guide roller assembly is utilized in a roller guide to guide or direct high-speed rolled stock. The guide roller assembly includes a fixed axle on which a rotatable guide wheel or roller is mounted. A drive ring or turbine wheel is provided within the guide roller. When the guide roller is to be accelerated to the speed of the rolled stock, fluid under pressure is conducted through one or more passages formed in the axle and directed against reaction surfaces formed on the drive ring. Exhaust passages conduct the fluid away from the reaction surfaces. These exhaust passages have central axes which extend transversely to the path along which the drive fluid moves into engagement with the reaction surfaces.

United States Patent 1191 Bock July 23, 1974 [54] GUIDE ROLLER IN ROLLERGUIDES 3,587,961 6/1971 Ritter 226/169 751 tzN'lE'kBk bk, 1 men or ai 0c Smedje ac en Primary Examiner-Milton S. Mehr [73] Assignee: Morgardshammer Aktiebolag, [57] ABSTRACT Smedjebacken, Sweden An improved guide roller assembly 1s utihzed 1n a roi- [22] Filed: June 6, 1973 ler guide to guide or direct high-speed rolled stock. The guide roller assembly includes a fixed axle on [21] Appl' 367525 which a rotatable guide wheel or roller is mounted. A drive ring or turbine wheel is provided within the [30] Foreign Application Priority Data guide roller. When the guide roller is to be accelerated June 7, 1973 Sweden 737463 to the speed f h rolled stock, fluid n r pr s re i conducted through one or more passages formed in [52] US. Cl......, .Q 72/251, 226/169 t axle and dir t d against reacti n surfaces formed [51] Int. Cl 'B2lb 39/14 on the drive ring. Exhaust passages conduct the fluid [58] Field of Search 72/250, 251; 226/169 w y fr m the re c i n surfaces. These exhaust passages have 'central axes which extend transversely to [56] References Cited the path along which the drive fluid moves into en- UNITED STATES PATENTS gagement with the reaction surfaces.

2,976,749 3/1961 Albedyhl 72 251 .1v 4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures e/ 2 Z J 3! 1 //a 1 3 L I (7 e 5 '7 1 GUIDE ROLLER IN ROLLER GUIDES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to a guide roller for roller guides intended to guide high-speed rolled stock and more specifically to a guide roller supported on a central axle with at least one passage way to conduct fluid under pressure .to a drive or turbine wheel disposed within the guide roller.

In some modern bar and wire rod rnills a roller guide having two guide rollers is utilized to guide .themovement of the rolled stock. The rolled stock may have a finishing speed of about 25 to 30 m/sec.'lt is, therefore, very important that the rolled stock enters a'groove in a finishing apparatus at a direction which is absolutely correct both vertically and laterally. If the direction of high-speed movement of the rolled stock is incorrect,

there is a risk that the rolled stock will be turned into scrap. For this reason, guides for the rolled stock are usually mounted in front of the groove. These guides may be roller guides. The roller guides include precision made guide rollers with surfaces for positioning the rolled stock as itenters the finishing apparatus at a very high speed.

' These guide rollers'have previously been stationary when the rolled stock was moved into engagement with them at a speed of, say, 40 m/sec. The guide rollers are then rapidly accelerated to a number of revolutions corresponding-to a surface speed'of 4O m/sec. When a guide roller of a diameter of approximately 4 cm obtains a surface speed of 40 m/sec, it has a rotational speed of approximately 320 rps. Such rapid acceleration induces very high stresses and wear, with resulting in a relatively short service life. I i

To overcome these problems, guide rollers have been accelerated prior to engagement of the rolled stock with the guide'rollers. This has been accomplished by means of an air jet which is directed againstreaction surfaces on a turbine wheel disposed outside of the guide roller. The exposed turbine wheel results in a design which is bulky and easily damaged-by foreign ob- JBCIS.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The present invention provides an improved guide roller with a relatively compact and rugged construction. This improved guide roller has reaction surfaces which are located within the roller. The fluid under pressure flows from an external source into the roller through a passage way and is directed against the reaction surfaces. The interaction between the fluid under pressure and the internal reaction surfaces on the roller cause the roller to be accelerated.

The reaction surfaces may be disposed in an annular array on a drive or turbine ring which is clamped between a pair of bearing parts. The bearing parts and turbine ring are rotatable together about a stationary axis of the guide roller. The bearing parts may have a truncated conical configuration with minor end surfaces adjacent to the reaction surfaces. The truncated conical bearing parts are-provided with internal bores which conduct fluid from the reaction surfaces after they have been utilized to drive the turbine ring.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The foregoing and other features of the present in- 2 vention will become more apparent upon a consideration of the following description taken in connection with the'accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a guide roller constructed in accordance with the present invention and having an internal drive or turbine ring;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view illustrating the construction of a second embodiment of the invention in which a plurality of passages formed in a stationary axle simultaneously direct fluid under pressure against a plurality of reaction surfaces formed on a turbine ring, FIG. 2 is taken along a plane transverse to the axis of rotation of the guide roller at a location substantially similar to the 1 location indicated at A--A in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary illustration depicting the relationship of a plurality of reaction surfaces on the turbine or drive rings of FIGS. 1 and 2.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION A guide roller assembly 1 constructed in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 in association with a roller guide. The guide roller assembly 1 is rotatably supported on a fixed axle by a pair of truncated conical bearing parts'3. The axle 2 is fixedly connected with a roller holder 4. A drive or turbine ring 5 is located within the roller assembly 1 andis fixedly clamped between minor end surfaces 3a of the bearing parts 3. The drive ring is rotatable with the bearing parts relative to the fixed axle 2.

The roller assembly 1 may be connected with a source of pressurized driving medium or lubricant, such as air or liquid under pressure, through a passage 6 in the roller holder 4 and passages 7 and 8 in the axle 2. The fluid under pressure flows through the passages 6, 7, and 8 into engagement with reaction surfaces on the turbine'ring 5. As the fluid under pressure exits from the passage way 8, it impinges against the reaction surfaces to rotate the turbine ring 5 and bearing parts 3 together relative to the fixed axle in much the same manner as in which a turbine wheel is driven.

After engaging the reaction surfaces,'the fluid exits from the bearing assembly through exhaust passages 9 formed in the truncated bearing parts 3. Each of the reaction surfaces on the turbine ring 5 is connected in fluid communication with one of a plurality of passages 9 formed in the truncated bearing parts 3 so that the fluid impinging against reaction surfaces can be exhausted from the guide roller assembly 1. A pair of annular bearing discs 10 are slidably engaged by major end surfaces 3b of the bearing parts 3 to support the bearing parts for rotation with the drive ring 5.

The bearing parts 3 and drive ring 5 are fixedly con- I nected with a rim or runner wheel 11 of the roller guide assembly 1. The annular rim 11 is formed of cemented carbide and cooperates with the bearing parts 3 in the manner described in copending application Ser. No. 367,524, filed on June 6, 1973 by Nils Erik Bock and entitled Improvements in Guide Roller for Roller Guides corresponding to Swedish application Ser. No. 7462/72.

The drive or turbine ring 5 is disposed within the roller assembly 1. Thus, the turbine ring 5 is disposed between transversely extending side surfaces 11a and 11b of the rim 11. By being located within the roller assembly 1, the turbine ring 5 is protected against any damage by engagement with foreign objects. In addition,

3 the roller assembly 1 has a relatively compact construction.

When rolled stock traveling at a relatively high speed is to be moved into engagement with the roller assembly 1, a valve is opened to connect the passage 6 in the roller holder 4 with a source of ,fluid under pressure. This fluid enters the passage 7 in the axle 2. The fluid then flows out of the axle 2 through the transversely extending passage 8 into, engagement with reaction surfaces formed on the turbine ring 5. The interaction between the high pressure fluid and the reaction surfaces on the turbine ring causes the turbine ring, bearing parts 3, and rim 11 of the roller assembly 1 to be rotated together relative tovthe fixed axle 2.

After the rim 11 of the roller assembly 1 has been accelerated to approximately the same surface speed as the rolled stock, the stock moves into engagement with the rim. Since the rim has previously been accelerated to substantially the same speed as the rolled stock, the stresses on the cemented carbide rim are minimized.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 2, a roller guide assembly la includes a fixed axle 2a in which a plurality of passages l2'are connected with a passage, similar to the passage 6 of FIG. 1, which conducts fluid from a source of fluid under pressure. This fluid flows through the passages 12 to transversely extending passages 13. The passages 13 direct the high pressure fluid against reaction surfaces 14 formedon an internal drive or turbine ring 5a. After the fluid has impinged against the reaction surfaces 14 on the turbine ring 50,- it is exhausted from the guide roller assembly 1a through passages 9a formed in a bearing part 3a in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1.

Thus, when the rim 11a of the roller guide assembly 1a is to be engaged by a piece of rolled stock, fluid under pressure is directed to the passage 12 and the transversely extending passages 13. The transversely extending passages 13 direct the pressurized fluid against reaction surfaces 14 on the turbine ring 5a. The interaction between the high pressure fluid and the reaction surfaces causes the turbine ring 5a to rotate with the rim 11a and bearing parts 3a about the fixed axle 2a. It should be noted that as'each of the reaction surfaces 14 moves past the mouth of one of the transverse passages 13, fluid under pressure is directed against the reaction surface to cause the turbine ring 5a to rotate around the axle 2a. Since the passages 9a extend transversely to the passages 13, the spent fluid is exhausted from the guide roller assembly-1a through the passages 9a. It should be noted that the high pressure fluid that drives the turbine ring 5a is also utilized to lubricate the bearings 3a.

The construction of the turbine ring 5a is illustrated in FIG. 3. The turbine ring 5a is integrally formed from a single piece of material and includes a plurality of projections 15 on which the reaction surfaces 14 are formed. It should be noted that reaction surfaces 14 extend at the same acute angle relative toaxes which extend radially outward from the-center of the drive ring 5a. The reaction surfaces l4 extend transversely to the central axes of the passages 13. Therefore, fluid from one of the passages 13 will impinge or flow against one of the'surfaces 14 and tend to rotate the drive ring 5a in a counterclockwise direction viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3. As the drive ring 5a rotates in a counterclockwisedirection, the reaction surfaces 14 will move sequentially past the outlets of the passages 13. Of course, as each of the reaction surfaces 14 moves past the outletto one of the passages 13, it will be engaged by a stream of fluid under pressure and to accelerate the drive ring 5a.

to the axis of rotation of the guide roller assembly 1, it

is contemplated that the passages 9 could extend parallel to the axis of rotation of the guide roller assembly.

Having described a specific preferred embodiment of the invention, the following is claimed:

1. A guide roller assembly for guiding high-speed movement of rolled stock, said guide roller assembly comprising rotatable rim means having an annular outer surface for engaging'the rolled stock, drive means disposed within said rim means for rotating said rim means, said drive means including a plurality of reaction surfaces disposed radially inwardly of said annular outer surface of said rim means, and passage means for conducting fluid under pressure and directing the fluid under pressure against said reaction surface means.

2. A guide roller assembly as set forth in claim 1 further including a fixed axle, bearing means for supporting said rim means for rotation about said axle, said passage means including a first passage formed in said axle and a second passage formed in said bearing means, said first passage including outlet means for directing the fluid under pressure against said reaction surfaces, said second passage including inlet means for receiving fluid after it has engaged said reaction surface means.

3. A guide roller assembly as set forth'in claim 1 further including a fixed axle and bearing means for supporting said rim means for rotation about said fixed axle, said bearing means including first and second bearing members disposed in clamping engagement with said drive means. I

4. A guide roller assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said bearing members have a truncated conical configuration and are disposed with their minor end portions in abutting engagement with said drive means.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent v Dated 23' Inventor(s) Nils Erik k It is certified that error'appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the foreign applicationpriority data, change "June 7 1973 Sweden 737463" to read --June 7', 1972 Delete "As'signee: Morgardshammer Aktiebolag, Smedjebacken, Sweden" and insert thereat -Assignee: Morgardshammar Aktiebolag, Smedjebackem. SWEGEIT';

Signed and sealed this 3rd day of December 1974.

(SEAL) Attest: v

McCOY M. GIBSON JR. 0. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner Of Patents USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 FORM PO-1050 (10-69) T T U.5. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 15GB 0-365-334. 

1. A guide roller assembly for guiding high-speed movement of rolled stock, said guide roller assembly comprising rotatable rim means having an annular outer surface for engaging the rolled stock, drive means disposed within said rim means for rotating said rim means, said drive means including a plurality of reaction surfaces disposed radially inwardly of said annular outer surface of said rim means, and passage means for conducting fluid under pressure and directing the fluid under pressure against said reaction surface means.
 2. A guide roller assembly as set forth in claim 1 further including a fixed axle, bearing means for supporting said rim means for rotation about said axle, said passage means including a first passage formed in said axle and a second passage formed in said bearing means, said first passage including outlet means for directing the fluid under pressure against said reaction surfaces, said second passage including inlet means for receiving fluid after it has engaged said reaction surface means.
 3. A guide roller assembly as set forth in claim 1 further including a fixed axle and bearing means for supporting said rim means for rotation about said fixed axle, said bearing means including first and second bearing members disposed in clamping engagement with said drive means.
 4. A guide roller assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said bearing members have a truncated conical configuration and are disposed with their minor end portions in abutting engagement with said drive means. 